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What next?...

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Anonymous
Not applicable

What next?...

Hi everybody, I had a rather unfortunate start with credit and credit cards. I got my first card in 2008 from USAA with a 1500 CL.  I immediately maxed it out for a trip abroad.  For that trip abroad I got an Banana Republic card with 600CL and an HSBC Best Buy card.  During my four years of college I proceeded to miss payments and not pay attention.  By the end USAA had canceled my card with me owing $1100 on it and I had paid and closed out the Banana Republic card and HSBC card.  However, the damage was done.  The HSBC card had been late 90 days, the Banana republic had been 30 days late 7 times and the Usaa card had been late 3 times.  So fast forward to this November. I started to wonder about my credit report/score and checked it out here for the first time.  EQ was 601.  I decided to take up one of the Capital One offers I had received in the mail and applied and was approved for a platinum mastercard with a 1000 CL.  Meanwhile I paid off the Usaa card and initiated some disputes about old information.  My score started to rise.  I began obsessing about my score and checking it everywhere I could.  I found one blog that suggested that an immediate way to up your score is to become an AU on someone's card who has a long history and no baddies.  So I got my grandmother to put me on her card that she has had since 1999 with a 15,000 CL.  My score continued to go up to the point that TU was 722 and EQ was 674....thats over 70 points in two months (Experian plus score 710).  So I went ahead and applied for the Delta Gold Amex card online and was immediately approved with a $2000 CL!  Then the following night I said what the heck and applied for a Chase Freedom card and was instantly approved with a 4000 CL!  I'm wondering how long I should wait before applying for the top cards that I want.  I ultimately want a Capital One Venture card, a Chase Sapphire Preferred and an Amex PR Gold card.  Any advice for how I should go from here and what my strategy should be? 

 

 

Starting Score: 11/14/12 EQ 601


Current Score: 1/1/13  TU 722, EQ 674, EX plus 710


Goal Score: 740

Message 1 of 18
17 REPLIES 17
jsucool76
Super Contributor

Re: What next?...


@Anonymous wrote:

Hi everybody, I had a rather unfortunate start with credit and credit cards. I got my first card in 2008 from USAA with a 1500 CL.  I immediately maxed it out for a trip abroad.  For that trip abroad I got an Banana Republic card with 600CL and an HSBC Best Buy card.  During my four years of college I proceeded to miss payments and not pay attention.  By the end USAA had canceled my card with me owing $1100 on it and I had paid and closed out the Banana Republic card and HSBC card.  However, the damage was done.  The HSBC card had been late 90 days, the Banana republic had been 30 days late 7 times and the Usaa card had been late 3 times.  So fast forward to this November. I started to wonder about my credit report/score and checked it out here for the first time.  EQ was 601.  I decided to take up one of the Capital One offers I had received in the mail and applied and was approved for a platinum mastercard with a 1000 CL.  Meanwhile I paid off the Usaa card and initiated some disputes about old information.  My score started to rise.  I began obsessing about my score and checking it everywhere I could.  I found one blog that suggested that an immediate way to up your score is to become an AU on someone's card who has a long history and no baddies.  So I got my grandmother to put me on her card that she has had since 1999 with a 15,000 CL.  My score continued to go up to the point that TU was 722 and EQ was 674....thats over 70 points in two months (Experian plus score 710).  So I went ahead and applied for the Delta Gold Amex card online and was immediately approved with a $2000 CL!  Then the following night I said what the heck and applied for a Chase Freedom card and was instantly approved with a 4000 CL!  I'm wondering how long I should wait before applying for the top cards that I want.  I ultimately want a Capital One Venture card, a Chase Sapphire Preferred and an Amex PR Gold card.  Any advice for how I should go from here and what my strategy should be? 

 

 

Starting Score: 11/14/12 EQ 601


Current Score: 1/1/13  TU 722, EQ 674, EX plus 710


Goal Score: 740


You have an amex now, so if you get denied it should only be a soft inquiry on your report, so I say go for the PRG. Charges are supposed to be easier than revolvers to get (about even with the delta gold card (their easiest revolver))

 

CSP requires a min limit of $5000, which I doubt chase would give you right after giving you a $4,000 limit. I would wait for that one. 

 

Try for the venture if you want (after you app for PRG, if you do). Remember cap1 pulls all 3 reports. 

Message 2 of 18
webhopper
Moderator Emeritus

Re: What next?...

Apply for PRG now... you will likely get it. ask for a CLI up to 6k on your delta card 61 days after you activate it. Do not; I repeat; do not charge more than you can pay in full. Be diligent about this. Join the garden club and garden for 12 months. The apply for chase sapphire preferred and cap 1 venture if those fit your needs in a year.
FICO 9:
Filed Chapter 13 on 6/1/2017 after job loss. Discharged 6/1/2022.

Goal: Gardening!


Message 3 of 18
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: What next?...

Does Amex allow for mulitple card applications in a short window of time? and Im wonding if I would get the 25,000 points offer since it wouldnt be my first Amex card.

Message 4 of 18
webhopper
Moderator Emeritus

Re: What next?...

You should. I plan on calling them to see if they will apply the bonus point offer on my new PRG as well as expedite an AU card for the hubby.

with amex you are able to call and ask for things even after you apply... their service is just awesome.
FICO 9:
Filed Chapter 13 on 6/1/2017 after job loss. Discharged 6/1/2022.

Goal: Gardening!


Message 5 of 18
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: What next?...

OMG!  I just applied and it said congratulations your application has been approved, you are now an American Express Cardmember.  And I just got an email saying that they are expediting my card 2-3 days! You guys are the best, I would never have had the nerve to apply. 

Message 6 of 18
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: What next?...

Just checked EX and there was another Amex hard inquiry, even though they just checked it two days ago for the Delta Gold card. 

Message 7 of 18
chnceit
Valued Contributor

Re: What next?...


@Anonymous wrote:

Just checked EX and there was another Amex hard inquiry, even though they just checked it two days ago for the Delta Gold card. 


Congrats welcome to the AMEX family! If you are approved they will do a HP. If you get denied then it will be a SP.

 

 


Last Pulled EQ: 809
Last Credit Card App: 02/05/2016
Last CLI: 02/06/2016
Find Me: Gardening
Message 8 of 18
Shogun
Moderator Emeritus

Re: What next?...

Congrats on the approval.  Nice card.  Smiley Happy

Starting Score: 504
July 2013 score:
EQ FICO 819, TU08 778, EX "806 lender pull 07/26/2013
Goal Score: All Scores 760+, Newest goal 800+
Take the myFICO Fitness Challenge

Current scores after adding $81K in CLs and 2 new cars since July 2013
EQ:809 TU 777 EX 790 Now it's just garden time!

June 2017 update: All scores over 820, just pure gardening now.
Message 9 of 18
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: What next?...

Thanks, now  I'm wondering how the no preset limit thing works.....what if you're declined somewhere? 

Message 10 of 18
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